USMC Mosquito Net Camo Covers - When were the Manufactured?

[Catfishcraig]

Anybody know much about the USMC mosquito net cover for the M1 helmet? When were they manufactured and are they marked with a date anywhere? If they were manufactured over a long period of time is there anyway of determining the earlier ones?

 

Thanks

[Bob Hudson]

They were made - and used - during WWII but were in Marine Corps warehouses for a long time after the war and were even used during the Vietnam War. I have sold a lot (all mint and unissued) and have never seen a mark of any sort on them.

[Catfishcraig]

Thank you for the info. I have a late unissued RS that I am considering displaying with a mosquito net cover and want to keep it as authentic as I can.

[Catfishcraig]

Thank you for the info. I have a late unissued RS M1 that I am considering displaying with a mosquito net cover and want to keep it as authentic as I can.

[Sabrejet]

Here's one. There's also a solid OD version.

[anton67]

They display nicer than I thought they would.

Were they used much during any war?

[Sabrejet]

I'm not sure how common/uncommon they were, but photographic evidence of them in use in WW2 and VN exists.

[rmoore456]

There are photos of them in use on Tarawa.

 

Ray

[Sabrejet]

If you plan to cover a helmet for display purposes, here are some fitting tips. The net section is quite voluminous. I suspect many Marines simply cut it off and just used the camo section (which is very thin cotton...like a man's handkerchief) You will need to carefully cut two slits for the chinstraps then arrange the net within the shell. This isn't as easy as it sounds because there's a lot of it, and unless it's done "properly" ie., by trial and error, the liner will not fit snuggly. Also, it helps if you wet the camo section in order to achieve a good shrink-fit.

[Catfishcraig]

If you plan to cover a helmet for display purposes, here are some fitting tips. The net section is quite voluminous. I suspect many Marines simply cut it off and just used the camo section (which is very thin cotton...like a man's handkerchief) You will need to carefully cut two slits for the chinstraps then arrange the net within the shell. This isn't as easy as it sounds because there's a lot of it, and unless it's done "properly" ie., by trial and error, the liner will not fit snuggly. Also, it helps if you wet the camo section in order to achieve a good shrink-fit.

 

Thank you for the tip and Nice helmet!

[Sabrejet]

Here's an OD one and a shot which shows the net within the shell.

[SergeantMajorGray]

Why does nobody display these with the net down? I think that is the coolest part about the cover.

[uplandmod]

There are also photos of them being used on Iwo.

 

LF

[Sabrejet]

Why does nobody display these with the net down? I think that is the coolest part about the cover.

 

That would only really work on a mannequin because of the length of the net. On a display head such as the ones I use, it would just bunch up.

[Bob Hudson]

These have been called "sniper" covers, but that was not their purpose and they would seem to be ill-suited for crawling along the ground through vegetation. Here's some photos of them in use in Iwo Jima and Tarawa and below that one of the solid color versions on a tall stand:

 

 

 

[Le Dirk]

Anybody know much about the USMC mosquito net cover for the M1 helmet? When were they manufactured and are they marked with a date anywhere? If they were manufactured over a long period of time is there anyway of determining the earlier ones?

 

Thanks

I have found that to determine the earlier ones that the same applies with the shelter halves, after '44 they switched that "pac-man" "bean shape" whatever you wish to call it, over to a more "limp" version, whereas it usually looks like the shape mostly found on the regular HBT covers. I don't remember where I read that though.

[Le Dirk]

So what I meant to say was if it has the regular bean shape then it will be early war and if its just the limp bean then its later war, the earliest one had the khaki band around it and the second one has the OD band but both have the more common pacman, and lastly is the 3rd one which has an OD band and the "new improved" shape and the colors seem to be more darker and mintyer, much like the no-slit HBT cover. I'll try to post some pics to show what I'm talkin 'bout. If anybody has an early khaki band cover, could they post a picture of the pacman shape?

 

Derek B.

[NickD]

heres mine

 

[NickD]

[NickD]

[pump 150]

I have seen three variations of the net so far. Have seen these referred to as types by some.

 

Type 1 has a double row stitch down the middle much like the HBT covers with two foliage bands with a gap at each side. The mesh is lighter and more brittle.

 

Have seen these used early on Tarawa and Eniwetok.

 

 

[pump 150]

Type 2 has single stitching on the crown with a single foliage band all the way around. The overall color is much more greyish and the cloth is khaki brown.

[pump 150]

Type 3 are the ones generally found. Single stitched crowns and bright green colors

[Sabrejet]

Very interesting. I didn't know that there were identifiable variants. Thanks for the info!

[BROBS]

good topic... I have one of these and had wondered about them. especially since they can be had for around $25 on ebay.